The newly launched Juicy Burger, spotlighted as the main attraction at the LikeMeat booth during the Anuga, was among a range of 19 frozen vegan products offered that included Golden Nuggets, Natural Fillet Strips, Schnitzels, Natural Fillet Steak and Bratwurst.
The burger serves up a strong smoky taste and a firm, juicy bite. Like all LikeMeat products, it is entirely plant-based and offers meat-lovers, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans alike a 100% authentic meat taste, thanks to a fibrous meat-like structure. Its main ingredients are legumes and selected spices. This means that the Juicy Burger is rich in plant protein, low in carbohydrates, fat and salt, and is also cholesterol- and lactose-free.
With the exception of the Juicy Burger and the traditional breaded schnitzels, all LikeMeat products are also gluten-free. The Juicy Burger is available as a 180-gram, two-portion pack selling a recommend price of EUR 2.49.
Timo Recker, founder of the Wetschen, Germany-headquartered company, has positioned the range to bring meat-lovers and vegans to the same table.
“Apart from the unique taste, the deciding factor in achieving the good meat-like quality is their fibrous consistency and juicy bite. These are properties which meatless alternatives on the market have not really addressed up until now,” he said. “Something new had to be found to convince even red meat lovers. I finally discovered one such schnitzel (made of soya) in a London restaurant. And that’s how the idea for LikeMeat was born.”
The high-quality faux meat products can be used in a variety of ways – in wraps, salads and as components for stir-fry dishes.
Whether for a special occasion or everyday meals, the vegan products from LikeMeat “are remarkably easy to confuse with real meat, and are a quality, modern alternative,” according to Recker.
“Because they have a natural feel, these products appeal to many different customer segments,” he added. “In addition to vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and meat-lovers seeking to reduce their meat consumption, there are other consumers, such as people with food allergies and people who are abstaining from meat for religious reasons, as well as athletes for whom a high-protein, low-calorie diet is particularly important.”
LikeMeat features only uses 100% natural ingredients in its recipes. All products are free of genetically modified ingredients, and free of additives such as binding agents, flavor enhancers, food coloring and preservatives.
The company, which acquired the Dutch brand ProViand in August of 2015, got its start in 2013 by developing pulse-based faux meat commodities for the vegan market.
